Lactic Starter Research Articles

Interaction between a Lactococcus lactis autochthonous starter and a raw goat milk microbial community during long-term backslopping

Traditional cheesemaking processes often involve backslopping practice. However, over successive inoculations, acidification deficiencies may arise. In such cases, adding a starter is recommended to restore the ecosystem stability. This study examines the impact of an autochthonous starter composed of three Lactococcus lactis strains on a raw goat milk microbial community during their evolution. Bacterial composition and technological features (acidification and aroma) were analyzed during communities’ evolution over 800 generations. 16S rRNA gene metabarcoding showed that Lactococcus lactis strains predominated. The raw goat milk community acidification capacities varied early in the evolution and then remained stable. Adding the L. lactis starter to this community stabilized the ecosystem from the beginning of the evolution. The acetoin production was associated with the starter presence, consistent with the establishment of the diacetylatis biovar strain from the starter in the raw goat milk community throughout the evolution. Increased or decreased production of some volatile organic compounds when the starter was added revealed a specific aroma footprint due to interactions between the two communities. This study showed that adding a starter could help to achieve the maximum acidification rate from the early inoculation cycles and could significantly modify the aroma profile during long-term backslopping.

Crafting Algerian “Jben”: a traditional soft cheese enhanced by locally derived starters

The global dairy industry faces challenges in sourcing cost-effective and suitable lactic starters for traditional cheese production. This study investigates the use of locally selected lactic starters in crafting Algerian Jben cheese, aiming to provide a sustainable alternative to imported starters. Local lactic starters comprising Lactococcus lactis, Leuconostoc mesenteroides, and Enterococcus durans were characterized by their technological properties when applied to cow's milk. The resulting cheese was compared with another cheese produced under similar conditions but using an industrial mesophilic starter, including strains of Lactococcus and Leuconostoc. Physicochemical and microbiological analyses were conducted on both cheeses, followed by sensory evaluations using the triangular and classification tests. Microbiological analyses revealed the absence of pathogenic germs or spores in both types of cheese. However, the cheese made with the industrial starter exceeded the standards for fecal coliforms and total coliforms. Titratable acidity measurements indicated comparable levels in both cheeses. Interestingly, there were no discernible differences in taste or aroma between the two types, with both being well received by tasters. In conclusion, our findings suggest that local lactic starters have the potential to replace the commercial starters currently employed in the Algerian dairy industry.

Behavior of Salmonella During Preparation of a Fermented Cashew Cheese Analog

Between 2013 and 2021, there were three reported salmonellosis outbreaks in North America linked to the consumption of cashew cheese analogs that were prepared from soaked and fermented cashews. The behavior of Salmonella was evaluated during fermentation of cashews to better understand the risks associated with plant-based fermentations. Single or seven-strain rifampin-resistant Salmonella-inoculated cashews (1–2 log CFU/g) were soaked 1:1 (w/v) in sterile ultrapure water at 4 °C for 24 ± 1 h, drained, and then blended with additional water. Salmonella-inoculated or uninoculated cashews with or without added commercial Lactococcus lactis starter culture (LAB), and with LAB and NaCl (0.8% and 1.6% w/w), citric acid (0.4% w/w), or a combination of NaCl and citric acid, were held at 24 ± 1 °C for up to 72 h. The pH, aerobic plate counts (M17 agar), and Salmonella populations (CHROMagar Salmonella with 50 µg/mL of rifampin) were measured at 0, 24, 48, and 72 h in replicate experiments. When LAB was present, aerobic plate counts increased from ∼8 log CFU/g to ∼9 log CFU/g after 24 h. The pH decreased from an initial pH ∼6 to pH 4.5–5.0 at 24 h in the presence of LAB or at 48 h in the absence of LAB. The presence of LAB significantly (P < 0.0001) impacted populations of Salmonella during the fermentation. There was no significant difference in Salmonella populations between the treatments with LAB alone and the treatments with LAB in combination with added NaCl (P = 0.3484) or citric acid (P = 0.8630). After 24 h, populations of Salmonella increased by 5.3–5.5 log in the absence of LAB and by 0.5–1.7 log in the presence of LAB, with or without added NaCl. These data demonstrate the need to consider a range of control measures for safe preparation of plant-based fermented products.

Quality and safety of pork meat after cooling and treatment with lactic starters

Cooling the pork half-carcasses in a refrigerating chamber with showering had no significant impact on their surface temperature. Still, it reduced the core temperature of the meat in 1 hour after cooling compared with air-cooling. pH-value of all pork half-carcasses that were subjected to cooling with the showering method, as well as the final processing of the pork with suspensions of Lactobacillus sakei and Leuconostoc carnosum in 1 hour and on the 4th day of storage in a chilled condition was within the limits typical for fresh and high-quality meat. The greatest weight loss of the pork half-carcasses occurred during the first 24 hours when they were being cooled. The weight loss of the pork half-carcasses in a chilled condition during 1 day when they were being cooled in a refrigerating chamber without the use of showering was 2.27%, when they were being cooled with the use of showering – 1.65%, when they were being cooled with the use of showering and final processing with SafePro® В-SF-43 (Leuconostoc carnosum) – 1.61% and SafePro® В-2 (Lactobacillus sakei) – 1.25% in comparison with the output of a hot carcass. Microorganism cultures of strains SafePro® B-SF-43 and SafePro® B-2, when they are applied at a dose of 106/cm2, had contributed to a colonization of the meat with the lactic-acid microorganisms and a significant decrease in the number of QMAFAnM in the neck and spine areas in 1 hour after cooling. S. aureus, Salmonella spp., and L. monocytogenes were not detected in the meat of the pork half-carcasses in all processing options during 4 days of storage in a chilled condition.

Technological characteristics of whole wheat bread: effects of wheat varieties, sourdough treatments and sourdough levels

Sourdough bread has gained interest with the increasing demand of consumers for more natural, delicious and healthy foods. Also, consumption of whole grain flour is increasing due to the bioactive compounds it contains. This study aimed to investigate the effects of wheat variety (Tosunbey, Kenanbey, İkizce-96, Bezostaja-1), sourdough treatment [Spontaneous fermentation (SP), Lactiplantibacillus plantarum (LP), Fructilactobacillus sanfranciscensis (LS)] and sourdough level (0–10–20–30%) on the technological characteristics of whole wheat bread. The investigated factors had significant effects on pH, total titratable acidity, specific volume, color and textural parameters. The increasing levels of sourdough decreased the specific volume of whole wheat bread and increased the crumb hardness. The whole wheat sourdough breads produced with LP and LS had lower specific volumes due to the acidity, but were more favorable in terms of smell compared to SP. The hardness and chewiness of the bread samples significantly increased with the three days of storage, while the cohesiveness and springiness decreased. Wheat varieties with higher protein content and Zeleny sedimentation value had better performance for whole wheat sourdough bread production. The study showed that sourdough with selected lactic starters (LP and LS) could be used at 10–20% levels in whole wheat bread formulations to have acceptable technological and sensory characteristics.

Whole genome analysis, thermal and UV-tolerance of Lactococcus phage BIM BV-114 isolated from cheese brine

Lactococcus phages that belong to the genus Ceduovirus are among the three most frequently isolated phage groups infecting Lactococcus lactis starter strains in dairy plants. In this study, we characterized virulent Lactococcus phage BIM BV-114 isolated from industrial cheese brine in Belarus and identified as Ceduovirus. The bacteriophage demonstrated a relatively short lytic cycle (latent period of 23 ± 5 min, lysis time of 90 ± 5 min), high thermal stability (inactivation after 7 min at 95 °C in skimmed milk) and tolerance to UV radiation (inactivation time – 15 min), indicating adaptation for better persistence in dairy facilities. The genome of the phage BIM BV-114 (21 499 bp; 37 putative open reading frames) has a similar organization to that of other Ceduovirus phages. RLf1_00140 and RLf_00050 gene products, found in the early genes region, may be involved in the sensitivity of phage to the lactococcal abortive infection mechanisms AbiV and AbiQ, respectively. Furthermore, nucleotide deletion, observed in the middle region of the gene encoding putative tape measure protein (RLf1_00300), is possibly responsible for increased thermal tolerance of phage BIM BV-114. Together, these findings will contribute to a better knowledge of virulent Lactococcus phages and the development of effective methods of their control for dairy technologies.

The effects of wheat variety, sourdough treatment and sourdough level on nutritional characteristics of whole wheat bread

This study aimed to investigate the effects of wheat variety (Tosunbey, Kenanbey, İkizce-96, Bezostaja-1), sourdough treatment (Lactiplantibacillus plantarum (LP), Fructilactobacillus sanfranciscensis (LS), Spontaneous fermentation (SP)), and sourdough level (0-10-20-30%) on phytic acid, dietary fiber, phenolic content and antioxidant activity of whole wheat bread. The whole wheat breads of Kenanbey and Bezostaja-1 had the lowest and highest phytic acid content (326 mg/100g and 449 mg/100g), respectively. Among the sourdough treatments, LS had the lowest (359 mg/100g) and SP had the highest (435 mg/100g) phytic acid content. While the phytic acid content was 463 mg/100g at %0 sourdough level, it was 329 mg/100g at 30% sourdough. The whole wheat bread of Bezostaja-1 had the highest total dietary fiber content (15.94%). The soluble dietary fiber content was higher in LP and LS treatments (2.47 and 2.50%), but there was no significant difference between the two (p > 0.05). The sourdough treatments had no significant effect on total phenolic content and total antioxidant activity (p > 0.05). However, the free phenolic content and free antioxidant activity of the breads produced with LP (703.1 mg GAE/kg and 177.4 μmol TE/100g) and LS (705.4 mg GAE/kg and 178.8 μmol TE/100g) were higher than SP (691.0 mg GAE/kg and 175.5 μmol TE/100g). The results indicated that all of the investigated factors had significant effects on phytic acid, soluble dietary fiber, free phenolic content and free antioxidant activity. It can be concluded that the nutritional characteristics of whole wheat bread can be improved using lactic starters and 30% sourdough.

Study of the process of infrared drying of lactic starter cultures

An assessment of the current state of the Russian lactic starter market is given, which reflects the dependence on imported raw materials mainly from European manufacturers. To reduce dependence and ensure food security during the sanction period, the scientific and technical community of the Russian Federation has been set with a task to create technologies that allow obtaining high-quality lactic starter cultures and fermented products based on them. The article discusses the drying of lactic starter culture to increase storage terms and conditions. An important point in the dehydration process is the preservation of biologically active substances (lactic acid organisms, bifidobacteria) in the starter dry residue. The basic technologies of starter culture drying are considered, an alternative technology of IR radiation with the use of membranous electric heaters is proposed. The experimental kinetic dependences and the equation of the drying process of lactic starter cultures were obtained on the manufactured laboratory stand. Laboratory tests of the dried starter culture showed full compliance of the content of biologically active substances with the starting material, GOST RF and a high degree of recoverability, which indicates the feasibility of developing IR radiation technologies and introducing them into the processing of lactic and lactic acid raw materials.

Development of fermented wheat flour using indigenous yeast lactic starter consortium

This study aimed to develop fermented wheat flour (FWF) using native yeast lactic starter consortium isolated from dahi, a popular Indian fermented dairy product. Yeast and Lactic Acid Bacteria (LAB) were isolated from samples of local household dahi to assess their milk fermentation potential. Molecular methods were used to identify the LAB isolates, while yeast isolates were identified using a carbohydrate fermentation profile. Dahi samples were prepared with LAB isolate Lactiplantibacillus pentosus, and yeast isolate Candida spherica, and their combination showed superior sensory scores. The FWF was prepared using LAB, yeast and their combination, and sensory evaluation of FWF-based soup was performed. The FWF prepared had lower moisture (6%), carbohydrate (71.14%) and calorific value (345.4 kcal) content compared to commercially available wheat flour/atta. Microbiological analysis showed the absence of coliforms, E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus, indicating hygienic preparation and inhibition of spoilage and pathogenic bacteria. The low moisture content and acidic pH (4.4) of the FWF contributed to its storage stability. In conclusion, fermented wheat flour produced using native LAB from dahi is a costeffective, storage-stable functional food with live beneficial microorganisms, suitable for promoting gut health.

The physical quality of cream cheese influenced by the addition of encapsulated Lactococcus lactis

This study aimed to determine the best treatment of Lactococcus lactis encapsulated with gelatin and Na-Alginat at different concentrations of : T_0 0% had (w/v); T_1 1% had (w/v); T_2 2% had (w/v), and T_3 3% had (w/v). The research was conducted in Animal Product Technology Laboratory. The material used was cream cheese made from pasteurized milk and added Lactococcus lactis starter culture encapsulated. Lactococcus lactis starter was obtained from the Center for Food and Nutrition Studies, Gadjah Mada University, encapsulated with Haqiqi brand beef gelatin and Food Grade brand Na-alginate. The method of this research was an experimentally designed completely randomized design (CRD) with four treatments and three replications. The parameter observed in this research were water content, water binding power, syneresis, free oil, emulsion stability, emulsion activity, emulsion index, and turbidity of cream cheese. The result showed that the addition of Lactococcus lactis encapsulated did not have a significant effect on water content, water binding power, syneresis, free oil, emulsion stability, emulsion activity, emulsion index, and turbidity of cream cheese (P&gt;0.05). It can be concluded that the best cream cheese was achieved with the addition of 3% Lactococcus lactis encapsulated with the 55.11% water content, 76.80% water holding capacity, 19.03% syneresis, 45.28% free oil respectively, 64.88% emulsion stability, 1.54 m^2/g emulsion activity, 3,68% emulsion index, and 2.19% turbidity.

Inhibition of Virulence Gene Expression in Salmonella Dublin, Escherichia coli F5 and Clostridium perfringens Associated With Neonatal Calf Diarrhea by Factors Produced by Lactic Acid Bacteria During Fermentation of Cow Milk.

Diarrhea is a major health problem in neonatal and young calves worldwide. It can be caused by a variety of infectious agents, including the bacteria Salmonella enterica serovar Dublin (S. Dublin), enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC), and Clostridium perfringens. Preventive alternatives to antibiotic treatment should be identified. As a first step toward this, the aim of the current study was to examine whether cell-free supernatants from cow milk fermented by lactic acid bacteria affects virulence-gene expression in strains of S. Dublin, ETEC E. coli F5 and C. perfringens. pH-neutralized, cell-free, spent medium of milk (nCFSM) fermented by 61 different lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and non-LAB starter cultures belonging to 17 genera was assayed for their effect on expression of important virulence factors (S. Dublin hilA, ssrB, ssaG, flhD, prgI, fliC; ETEC E. coli F5 fanC, estA, fim41a; C. perfringens cpa), when the bacteria were grown in the nCFSM. Screening was done using either a promoter-reporter expression system or RT-qPCR. nCFSM from Bifidobacterium longum BL-15955 and Limosilactobacillus reuteri LR-33016 downregulated the expression of fanC, fim41a and estA genes in the four tested ETEC E. coli F5 strains without affecting their growth, while mainly B. longum BL-15955 downregulated expression of cpa in the four tested strains of C. perfringens. nCFSM from the mixed cultures; NU-TRISH® BY-Mild (Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus, Streptococcus thermophilus and Bifidobacterium BL-15954) and COMBO4 (Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus), as well as Lactobacillus helveticus CNRZ32 downregulated the tested virulence genes in the three tested strains of S. Dublin. To enable possible downregulation of the expression of virulence genes in all three target bacteria simultaneously, nCFSM was prepared from NU-TRISH® By-Mild in combination with B. longum BL-15955 (i.e. a four-strain combination). The nCFSM from this combination downregulated the virulence genes expression in all the three species. In the future, NU-TRISH® By-Mild and B. longum BL-15955 in combination could potentially be used for prevention of neonatal calf diarrhea caused by S. Dublin, E. coli F5, and C. perfringens, reducing the need for antimicrobial treatment, however, field studies are needed to prove that.

The fermented soy whey produced by a combined lactic acid bacteria starter shows improved flavor and the function in alleviating dextran sulphate sodium induced colitis in mice

ABSTRACT In this study, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum BC299, Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus 717 and Streptococcus thermophilus 176 were used as combined starter cultures to produce a fermented soy whey beverage. The results showed that the fermentation of the combined starter cultures increased the content of lactic acid, acetic acid, succinic acid, and malic acid, while decreased the content of citric acid, fumaric acid and propionic acid. Meanwhile, the fermentation also effectively changed the proportion of volatile flavor substances. The higher sensory score of the fermented soy whey also confirmed the flavor improvement effect of the combined starter cultures. In addition, the in vivo results of animal experiments showed that the fermented soy whey could significantly improve the disease activity index (DAI) and colon morphology in dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) induced colitis mice. This study showed that the combined lactic acid bacteria starter cultures had important value-added relevance on the effective reuse of the soy whey by-product.

Improvement of Sanitary Quality of the &lt;i&gt;Digue&lt;/i&gt; by Use of Lactic Starters

Digue is a traditional food obtained from the addition of the paste of roasted peanuts in pumpkin juice obtained by spontaneous fermentation. This spontaneous fermentation unfortunately contributes to its alteration by molds and certain pathogenic bacteria. The aim of this work is to use lactic starters to inhibit the growth of certain pathogenic germs during controlled fermentation. A total of 24 lactic acid bacteria were isolated from the samples of Digue collected in the locality of Gamboura in the Far North of Cameroon. The screening allowed to retaining 02 strains of lactic acid bacteria for their best antimicrobial activities. The molecular identification of these two strains showed that they belong to the species Lactobacillus casei and Pediococcus acidilactici. The use of these two 02 lactic acid bacteria during the controlled fermentation of the Digue contaminated by Aspergillus M2, Aspergillus M3, Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 and Salmonella enteritidis 155A showed that all the pathogen germs were totally inhibited by Lactobacillus casei after 21 days of fermentation. The same result was obtained with Pediococcus acidilactici on all molds and Escherichia coli ATCC 25922. At the end of this study, it appears that, the lactic acid bacteria Lactobacillus casei can be used to ensure the hygienic quality of the Digue after 21 days of fermentation.

What are the potential sources of on-farm contamination of raw milk butter with Escherichia coli?

Description of the subject. According to Regulation (EC) No 2073/2005, Escherichia coli must be enumerated in raw milk butter before sales. Hygiene of batches is acceptable when a maximum of two samples out of five have levels of E. coli between 10 and 100 cfu·g-1. E. coli is still a threat to the safety of raw milk butter. Objectives. This study aimed to identify sources of E. coli in six farms facing recurrent contaminations in butter. Method. Farms were visited three times between March and May 2021. Surface samples and dairy products samples were collected throughout the process for E. coli enumeration and assessment of potential correlations between equipment contamination and hygienic quality of food products. Results. Two major sources of contamination were identified: the lack of efficacy of cleaning and disinfection practices on milk pipelines, junctions and cream separators, and absence of milk cooling in case of time-lapse of more than 2 h between milking and skimming. The use of lactic acid starters could be a helpful way to control E. coli during cream maturation, in association to adequate good manufacturing practices. Conclusions. Levels of E. coli in the considered raw milk butter batches were really high. A new decision tree is proposed that could help manufacturers and food controllers to improve hygienic quality of raw milk butter.

Effect of process variables on the physicochemical and rheological properties of yogurt

In this research, the effect of the lactic starter culture, the fermentation time, the incubation temperature and the percentage of fat on the firmness and consistency of a fermented milk drink was evaluated through physicochemical characteristics of total acidity, pH, syneresis and flow behavior. The purpose was to find the best formulation that extends the shelf life of yogurt, leading to an improvement in the manufacturing process of a local dairy company in Barrancabermeja (Santander, Colombia). Quality criteria were evaluated by means of the percentage of acidity and pH of the yogurt, as well as its syneresis and rheological parameters during a storage time of 24 hours and 7 days in refrigeration. Acceptable quality parameters were obtained for the yogurt prepared with an inoculum concentration of 2%, an incubation temperature of 40°C and an incubation time of 150 minutes. In addition, better properties of firmness and consistency were found, with absence of syneresis and viscosity in the accepted range, for this dairy product.

Lactic Starter Dose Shapes S. aureus and STEC O26:H11 Growth, and Bacterial Community Patterns in Raw Milk Uncooked Pressed Cheeses.

Adding massive amounts of lactic starters to raw milk to manage the sanitary risk in the cheese-making process could be detrimental to microbial diversity. Adjusting the amount of the lactic starter used could be a key to manage these adverse impacts. In uncooked pressed cheeses, we investigated the impacts of varying the doses of a lactic starter (the recommended one, 1×, a 0.1× lower and a 2× higher) on acidification, growth of Staphylococcus aureus SA15 and Shiga-toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) O26:H11 F43368, as well as on the bacterial community patterns. We observed a delayed acidification and an increase in the levels of pathogens with the 0.1× dose. This dose was associated with increased richness and evenness of cheese bacterial community and higher relative abundance of potential opportunistic bacteria or desirable species involved in cheese production. No effect of the increased lactic starter dose was observed. Given that sanitary criteria were paramount to our study, the increase in the pathogen levels observed at the 0.1× dose justified proscribing such a reduction in the tested cheese-making process. Despite this, the effects of adjusting the lactic starter dose on the balance of microbial populations of potential interest for cheese production deserve an in-depth evaluation.

Bee pollen as a novel substrate in pilot-scale probiotic-mediated lactic fermentation processes

Different process conditions were evaluated to induce lactic acid fermentation of bee pollen at the pilot scale using three different commercial starter cultures. Clean and dry Colombian high Andean bee pollen was used as the sole source of nutrients (substrate). The effect of substrate preparation conditions (water:pollen ratio and initial substrate acidity) on lactic fermentation was evaluated by monitoring pH, titratable acidity, and pollen morphology in 6-kg-fermentation units. A 2:1 water:pollen mixture with an initial pH adjusted to 5.8, pretreated with heat/pressure (10 min; 80 kPa; 115 °C), was determined to be an adequate substrate for pilot-scale lactic fermentation for all lactic starter cultures. At the selected conditions, the kinetics of lactic acid production and the growth of specific lactic bacteria were determined. The fermentation process time was 30 h, after which a significant decline in bacterial populations was observed. Among the starter cultures tested, one constituted exclusively by probiotic Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM presented the best performance in terms of lactic acid production, with a concentration of 1.65% wt, after 30 h. The results highlight the feasibility of producing fermented bee pollen at a commercial scale as a functional food product with probiotic features.

Изучение влияния различных ингредиентов на органолептические и функционально-технологические свойства сердца говяжьего

Offals are of interest to both factures of meat products and consumers. At the same time, the ambiguity of the organoleptic properties of offals and the lasted of their processing create barriers to the growth of their consumption. The studies carried out allowed us to demonstrate the most effective approaches to obtain the necessary organoleptic properties of a product with high functional -technological characteristics. The most effective approach to improve the properties of products from beef heart is using of lactic acid starter culture and citric acid.

Employing lytic phage-mediated horizontal gene transfer in Lactococcus lactis.

Lactococcus lactis is a lactic acid bacterium widely used as a starter culture in the manufacture of dairy products, especially a wide variety of cheeses. Improved industrial strains would help to manufacture better food products that can meet the industry’s and consumer’s demands with respect to e.g. quality, taste, texture and shelf life. Bacteriophage infection of L. lactis starter cultures represents one of the main causes of fermentation failure and consequent economic losses for the dairy industry. In this study, however, we aim at employing bacteriophages for beneficial purposes. We developed an experimental setup to assess whether phage-mediated horizontal gene transfer could be used to enhance the genetic characteristics of L. lactis strains in accordance with the European law regarding the use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in the food industry.Although we could not show the transfer of chromosomal DNA we did successfully transduce two dissimilar plasmids from L. lactis strain MG1363 to one of its derivatives employing three different lactococcal bacteriophages.

Contribution of Leuconostocaceae to CO2-mediated bloater defect in cucumber fermentation

Fermented cucumber bloater defect, caused by the accumulation of microbiologically produced carbon dioxide (CO2), creates significant economic losses for the pickling industry. The ability of Leuconostocaceae, indigenous to cucumber, to grow and produce CO2 during a fermentation and cause bloater defect was evaluated. Leuconostocaceae grew and produced over 40% CO2 in cucumber juice medium, used as a model for cucumber fermentation. The inoculation of Leuconostocaceae to 5 Log CFU/g in cucumber fermentations brined with 25 mM calcium chloride and 6 mM potassium sorbate resulted in no significant differences in bloater defect, colony counts from MRS and VRBG agar plates or the fermentation biochemistry; suggesting an inability of the inoculated bacterial species to prevail in the bioconversion. Acidified cucumbers were subjected to a fermentation inoculated with a Leuconostoc lactis starter culture after raising the pH to 5.9 ± 0.4. CO2 was produced in the acidified cucumber fermentations to 13.6 ± 3.5% yielding a bloater index of 21.3 ± 6.4; while 8.6 ± 0.8% CO2 and a bloater index of 5.2 ± 5.9 were observed in the non-inoculated control jars. Together the data collected demonstrate that Leuconostocaceae can produce enough CO2 to contribute to bloater defect, if not outcompeted by the leading lactic acid bacteria in a cucumber fermentation.